Obama Says to Put Down That Spoonful of Sugar

We already knew sugar was toxic, but now it's getting the presidential stamp of disapproval.

Today, the Obama administration released its update to the official Dietary Guidelines, a report created by officials from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. Considering it changes only once every five years, it's pretty significant in revealing the biggest health concerns nationwide. The focus of this latest update: Americans' consumption of sugar.

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The new guidelines suggest that less than 10 percent of daily calories should come from added sugars (that excludes natural sugars found, for example, in fruit). Americans, who reportedly consume up to 22 teaspoons of sugar a day, would have to cut that in half down to no more than 12 teaspoons a day (based on a 2,000-calorie diet). Sugar intake increases risk for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease even among those who are not overweight or obese.

In a somewhat surprising move, the guidelines don't specifically advise to cut down on red meat and processed meat. Instead, it works around that previously contested recommendation by suggesting more seafood, legumes, nuts, seeds, and other leaner sources of protein. Other recommendations are, predictably, consuming more fruits, vegetables, fiber, whole grains, and less salt.

The Dietary Guidelines aren't meant to be read widely by the general public; they're aimed at nutrition professionals. That being said, it does influence the National School Lunch Program, which 31 million children use daily, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, which serves 8.3 million people.